You Won’t Lose Your AT&T Grandfathered Unlimited Data Plan When You Upgrade To The iPhone 5

The future of unlimited data on AT&T and Verizon doesn’t look promising, but potential iPhone 5 owners with grandfathered unlimited data plans on AT&T can rest easy. AT&T today confirmed that it will allow grandfathered customers with unlimited data to keep their plans when upgrading to the iPhone 5.

Unlike Verizon, AT&T will let its customers keep unlimited data if they buy a subsidized or unsubsidized iPhone 5. Verizon requires that customers pay the full, unsubsidized price of the device to keep unlimited data.

AT&T’s CEO in a press release:

“We are thrilled to offer iPhone 5 on the nation’s largest 4G network. We’ve worked with Apple since the original in 2007 and this is hands-down their best phone yet,” said Ralph de la Vega, president & CEO, AT&T Mobility. “We offer customers the flexibility to keep the iPhone data plans they already have or choose any of our individual or new Mobile Share plans. We’re proud that more customers choose AT&T for iPhone than any other U.S. carrier and look forward to making iPhone 5 the newest addition to our lineup.”

So there you have it. You can choose a new Mobile Share plan, but you don’t have to. That’s good news, and a big plus for buying the iPhone 5 on AT&T. One catch is that AT&T will force you to move to a Mobile Share plan if you want to use FaceTime over Cellular. Verizon has yet to give its official position on charging for FaceTime.

We have contacted AT&T for further clarification. We will update you when we hear back.